New Jersey Nuclear

AAEA Support for New Jersey Nuclear Power Plants

AAEA was the leading environmental group that worked to keep two of New Jersey's nuclear power plants open.

Senate and House legislators in New Jersey passed S2313 and A3724, companion bills on April 12, 2018 that will ensure the continued operation of the Salem and Hope Creek nuclear power plants in that state. The Zero Emission Certificate (ZEC) legislation provides needed financial support for the facilities.

Salem and Hope Creek power plants support more than 5,000 jobs, produce enough electricity to power 3 million homes per day and provide more than 90 percent of the state's zero-carbon electricity. The bills preserve more than $800 million in annual economic activity across New Jersey.

AAEA testified at hearings in December 2017 and in February 2018 in support of the legislation. Our phone calls to legislators and an Op Ed the day before the vote also hopefully helped in convincing legislators to support the bills. AAEA concentrated on the health effects of closing the plants.

The passage of these bills in New Jersey comes in the wake of similar actions taken by lawmakers in New York and Illinois who recognized the economic and environmental benefits of commercial nuclear energy in those states.

The New Jersey Legislative Black Caucus overwhelmingly voted to support nuclear power, giving 90% of its vote to the House and Senate bills. Only two out of twenty members voted against legislation to keep two of the states nuclear plants open. AAEA encouraged the members to support the legislation.

Clearly, the NJ Legislative Black Caucus understands that minority communities are particularly vulnerable to air related illnesses with the highest rates of asthma attack, emergency room visits and hospitalizations in the state. These vulnerable communities are helped by the ability of Hope Creek and Salem nuclear facilities to deliver incredible amounts of baseload electricity without producing any of the air pollution that hurts these areas.

Governor Phil Murphy signed Environmental Justice Executive Order 23 on April 20 directing the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), with support from other state agencies, to develop guidance on how all state departments can incorporate environmental justice considerations into their actions. Environmental justice touches a wide variety of issues related to quality of life, including housing, health, and transportation.

Clearly Governor Murphy understands the link between environmental justice and the effect nuclear power has in mitigating environmental injustice. Governor Murphy recently expressed his support for nuclear energy in a quote to The New York Times, “I believe the biggest bridge we have to our clean energy future are the nukes.” Because nuclear power does not emit any smog forming gases, it is a major clean air asset. This clean air asset is also an environmental justice asset because African Americans throughout New Jersey suffer most from the negative effects of air pollution. The governor expands on his support for environmental justice,

“All of our residents regardless of race, color, ethnicity, religion deserve to live in communities free from the effects of pollution and are entitled to participate in decision-making that affects their environment, their communities, their homes and their health. Good environmental policy is something that must lift all communities. The Executive Order I am signing will ensure state agencies are considering the cumulative impacts of their actions in overburdened communities on an ongoing basis.”

The governor understands that low-income communities and communities of color in New Jersey and across the country often bear the brunt of pollution and the impacts of climate change. Further exemplifying the disparity, between 2012 and 2016, the rate of asthma for African Americans was 17.2% compared to 12% for whites in New Jersey.

Regarding the Establishment of a Zero Emission Certificate Program For Eligible Nuclear Power Plants

Public Hearings BPU Docket No. EO18080899

Middlesex County Administration Building

Freeholders Meeting Room

75 Bayard Street, 1st Floor

New Brunswick, NJ

October 11, 2018

Introduction

My name is Norris McDonald and I am the founder and president of the African American Environmentalist Association (AAEA). We are the nation’s oldest African American-led environmental group and we are dedicated to protecting the environment, promoting the efficient use of natural resources, enhancing human, animal and plant ecologies, promoting increased African American ownership of energy resources and infrastructure and increasing African American participation in the environmental movement.

Earlier this year, we supported state legislation (the Act)[1] that would establish a Zero Emission Certificate (ZEC) Program. We commend the Board of Public Utilities (Board) for holding these hearings in order to get public feedback for establishing an application process for participating in the ZEC Program. We will be supporting the applications of Hope Creek and Salem nuclear power plants specifically because the units make a significant and material contribution to the air quality in the state. The units also minimize harmful emissions that adversely affect the citizens of the state. Finally, if the unit were to be retired, the retirement would significantly and negatively impact New Jersey’s ability to comply with State air emissions reduction requirements. Most importantly, the application keeps the State on the right track to achieving ozone attainment.

Hope Creek and Salem are existing, licensed, and operating nuclear power plants that are invaluable assets in mitigating air pollution in New Jersey. The state is in nonattainment for ozone, which is a component of smog, and negatively affects the health of New Jersey residents. The ZEC Program is a Godsend to people suffering from asthma and other air pollution related illnesses. Our testimony will provide specific reasons for including Hope Creek and Salem nuclear plants in the ZEC Program.

Minority communities are particularly vulnerable to air related illnesses with the highest rates of asthma attack, emergency room visits and hospitalizations in the state. These vulnerable communities are helped by the ability of Hope Creek and Salem nuclear facilities to deliver incredible amounts of baseload electricity without producing any of the air pollution that hurts these areas.

The ZEC Program creates a framework whereby existing facilities, such as Hope Creek and Salem, can be considered credited assets in New Jersey’s ongoing goals to improve air quality. These power plants operated for many years without being recognized and rewarded for providing emission free electricity to the State of New Jersey. The implementation of the ZEC program fixes this oversight.

We encourage the BPU to adopt the broadest view of requirements when developing the program so that these valuable assets can continue to operate and support the state in meeting its clean air goals.

[1] On May 23, 2018, Governor Phil Murphy signed into law L. 2018, c. 16 (C.48:3-87.3 to -87.7) (“Act)

My name is Norris McDonald and I am the founder and president of the African American Environmentalist Association (AAEA). We are the nation’s oldest African American-led environmental group and we are dedicated to protecting the environment, promoting the efficient use of natural resources, enhancing human, animal and plant ecologies, promoting increased African American ownership of energy resources and infrastructure and increasing African American participation in the environmental movement.

We support SB 877 because it establishes a Zero Emission Certificate (ZEC) Program, modifies the State Solar Renewable Energy Portfolio Standards (RPS) and establishes and modifies Clean Energy and Energy Efficiency Programs. The existing New Jersey Renewable Portfolio Standards Program has not and cannot reduce emissions to meet the federal Clean Air Act requirements for ozone attainment without nuclear power. SB 877 keeps the State on the right track to achieving ozone attainment.

The most important reason we support this legislation is because it is a needed strategy to prevent the premature retirement of Hope Creek and Salem nuclear power plants. These existing, licensed, and operating nuclear power plants are an invaluable asset in mitigating air pollution in New Jersey. The state is in nonattainment for ozone, which is a component of smog, and negatively affects the health of New Jersey residents. Any support the New Jersey state legislature can provide would be a Godsend to people suffering from asthma and other air pollution related illnesses.

Minority communities are particularly vulnerable to air related illnesses with the highest rates of asthma attack, emergency room visits and hospitalizations in the state. These vulnerable communities are helped by the ability of Hope Creek and Salem nuclear facilities to deliver incredible amounts of baseload electricity without producing any of the air pollution that hurts these areas.

Nuclear power plants represent our most important facilities for efficiently producing large amounts of baseload electricity while not producing air polluting emissions. It is for these reasons that we support the PSEG/Exelon nuclear fleet. Hope Creek and Salem nuclear facilities are invaluable clean air assets in New Jersey. Hope Creek and Salem are also uncredited assets in New Jersey’s ongoing goals to improve air quality.

We were the first environmental group in the United States to support nuclear power starting in 2001. We support nuclear power because operating the plants do not create smog-forming gases or greenhouse gases. We are also particularly interested in mitigating air pollution in New Jersey because African Americans represent most of the asthma hospitalizations in the vast majority of counties in New Jersey.

My name is Norris McDonald and I am the founder and president of the African American Environmentalist Association (AAEA). We are the nation’s oldest African American-led environmental group and we are dedicated to protecting the environment, promoting the efficient use of natural resources, enhancing human, animal and plant ecologies, promoting increased African American ownership of energy resources and infrastructure and increasing African American participation in the environmental movement. We support AB 877 because it establishes a Zero Emission Certificate (ZEC) Program, modifies the State Solar Renewable Energy Portfolio Standards (RPS) and establishes and modifies Clean Energy and Energy Efficiency Programs. We support SB 877 because it establishes a Zero Emission Certificate (ZEC) Program, modifies the State Solar Renewable Energy Portfolio Standards (RPS) and establishes and modifies Clean Energy and Energy Efficiency Programs. The existing New Jersey Renewable Portfolio Standards Program has not and cannot reduce emissions to meet the federal Clean Air Act requirements for ozone attainment without nuclear power. SB 877 keeps the State on the right track to achieving ozone attainment.

The most important reason we support this legislation is because it is a needed strategy to prevent the premature retirement of Hope Creek and Salem nuclear power plants. These existing, licensed, and operating nuclear power plants are an invaluable asset in mitigating air pollution in New Jersey. The state is in nonattainment for ozone, which is a component of smog, and negatively affects the health of New Jersey residents. Any support the New Jersey state legislature can provide would be a Godsend to people suffering from asthma and other air pollution related illnesses. Minority communities are particularly vulnerable to air related illnesses with the highest rates of asthma attack, emergency room visits and hospitalizations in the state. These vulnerable communities are helped by ability of Hope Creek and Salem nuclear facilities ability to deliver incredible amounts of baseload electricity without producing any of the air pollution that hurts these areas.

Nuclear power plants represent our most important facilities for efficiently producing large amounts of baseload electricity while not producing air polluting emissions. It is for these reasons that we support the PSEG Nuclear nuclear fleet. Hope Creek and Salem nuclear facilities are invaluable clean air assets in New Jersey. Hope Creek and Salem are also uncredited assets in New Jersey’s ongoing goals to improve air quality.

We were the first environmental group in the United States to support nuclear power starting in 2001. We support nuclear power because operating the plants do not create smog-forming gases or greenhouse gases. We are also particularly interested in mitigating air pollution in New Jersey because African Americans represent most of the asthma hospitalizations in the vast majority of counties in New Jersey.

Strategies to Prevent the Premature Retirement of Existing, Licensed, and Operating Nuclear Power Plants

Committee Room 4, 1st Floor, State House Annex

Trenton, NJ

Monday, December 04, 2017 - 10:00 AM

Introduction

My name is Norris McDonald and I am the founder and president of the African American Environmentalist Association (AAEA). We are the nation’s oldest African American-led environmental group and we are dedicated to protecting the environment, promoting the efficient use of natural resources, enhancing human, animal and plant ecologies, promoting increased African American ownership of energy resources and infrastructure and increasing African American participation in the environmental movement.

We support strategies to prevent the premature retirement of Hope Creek and Salem nuclear power plants. These existing, licensed, and operating nuclear power plants are an invaluable asset in mitigating air pollution in New Jersey. The state is in nonattainment for ozone, which is a component of smog, and negatively affects the health of New Jersey residents. Any support the New Jersey state legislature can provide would be a Godsend to people suffering from asthma and other air pollution related illnesses. Minority communities are particularly vulnerable to air related illnesses with the highest rates of asthma attack, emergency room visits and hospitalizations in the state. These vulnerable communities are helped by ability of Hope Creek and Salem nuclear facilities ability to deliver incredible amounts of baseload electricity without producing any of the air pollution that hurts these areas.

Nuclear power plants represent our most important facilities for efficiently producing large amounts of baseload electricity while not producing air polluting emissions. It is for these reasons that we support the PSEG Nuclear nuclear fleet. Hope Creek and Salem nuclear facilities are invaluable clean air assets in New Jersey. Hope Creek and Salem are also uncredited assets in New Jersey’s ongoing goals to improve air quality.

We were the first environmental group in the United States to support nuclear power as a global warming mitigation tool starting in 2001. We support nuclear power because operating the plants do not create smog-forming gases or greenhouse gases. We are also particularly interested in mitigating air pollution in New Jersey because African Americans represent most of the asthma hospitalizations in the vast majority of counties in New Jersey.